Weekly Outlook - Rural ministry, Tiny Tim, and a hopeful story

Dear readers, It's hard to believe it, but Advent is almost here. There's a part of me that is excited about this. Advent is my favorite liturgical season. I yearn for the invitation to lean into the changing season, connecting the bare trees with my deep hunger for hope. I'm excited to offer Outlook readers prayers, a candlelighting liturgy, and a Blue Christmas service in the coming days.  Advent's proximity also makes my palms start to sweat. So much to do! When will I find time to rest ... and see family .. and buy presents ... and plan for Lent?? I'm guessing many of you know this feeling well.  At the Outlook, we're constantly striving to make the lives of church leaders easier, just as we attempt to create pockets of meaning for our readers. With that in mind, this year we've created Draw Near, an Advent devotional by Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott that invites us to slow down and pay attention — not just to Christmas on the horizon, but to Christ’s presence with us here and now. Enjoy this free sample below. Read more and pre-order the devotion. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook  "Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42) Shug Avery, in The Color Purple, offers this bit of holy mischief: “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.” It’s a startling image of divine disappointment, but it has always struck a chord with me. I imagine God, the artist of stars and oceans and wildflowers, yearning for someone – anyone – to stop and take notice. Jesus’ words in Matthew carry that same ache. Keep awake, he says. Pay attention. Don’t miss what matters. Advent begins not with sentiment but with summons: a call to wake up, to notice the beauty, the ache, the holy presence woven into our days. Scripture is full of moments when God’s people lost focus, when we drifted into distraction or despair. But even then, God did not turn away. Even then, the Artist kept painting. Kept reaching. Kept hoping we’d lift our eyes. This first Sunday of Advent is less about countdowns and candles and more about clarity: Where is God in your field of vision? What distractions have dulled your sight? This season is a sacred invitation to reawaken our attention and open our hearts to the presence of the One who never stopped noticing us. For reflection: Set a timer for 10 minutes and take an unrushed walk, outside if possible, inside if not. As you move, ask yourself: What “purple” have I been passing by? Notice one small, easily overlooked sign of God’s artistry — a splash of color, a sound, a scent, a fleeting kindness. Pause with that sign, name it aloud, and thank God for the awakening. Prayer: Awaken us, God, to your wonder and your artistry. Stir our sleepy spirits. Draw us near this Advent. Amen.

From Tiny Tim to ‘The Disabled God’: Rethinking disability in theology and the church by Lydia Griffiths How reading theology saved my faith by Daniel J. Ott Rural ministry: Daycares, libraries and radical welcome by Catherine Neelly Burton The numbers look grim. The trends tell another story. by Gregg Brekke How a youth minister became a lifeline for young athletes by Cindy Shania Eken Sobtafo   Why theological education matters by Teri McDowell Ott In case you missed it... Partners for Sacred Places launches Pennsylvania’s Faithful Fund The grant will support rural congregations as they preserve their buildings and invest in their communities New Columbia Seminary center equips faith leaders for public dialogue Columbia Seminary launches the Center for Theology and Contested Publics to equip faith leaders for dialogue and insight in today’s divided public life. — CTS Special committee works on drafting new confession Committee members said the in-person meeting was a turning point in their work ahead of the 227th General Assembly in 2026. — Layton Williams Berkes Communion Merideth Hite Estevez reflects on faith, parenting, and finding communion with God amid brokenness. How a small New Jersey church connects with migrant workers Hammonton Presbyterians join with local partners to put their faith in action. — Lydia Griffiths Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and partners offer a summit on incarceration The half-day webinar focuses on ministering to and advocating for people in prison. — Mike Ferguson Resources now available for Reformation Sunday Reformation Sunday is October 26. University of Dubuque inaugurates 12th president, Travis L. Frampton, during homecoming The University of Dubuque inaugurates Travis L. Frampton as its 12th president, marking a new era of innovation, growth, and community transformation. — Presbyterian Historical Society A daily Advent devotional by Presbyterian Outlook Each Advent, we are invited to slow down and pay attention — not just to Christmas on the horizon, but to Christ’s presence with us here and now. This daily devotional by Teri McDowell Ott helps you do just that.

Each Advent, we are invited to slow down and pay attention — not just to Christmas on the horizon, but to Christ’s presence with us here and now. Draw Near, written by Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott, is a daily devotional that helps you do just that.